138 Bruckner: Overcoming Challenges to Transform the South Bronx with Visionary Design

The history of 138 Bruckner is rooted in the transformation of a challenging brownfield site, once occupied by Zaro’s Family Bakery for 16 years. Through the client’s vision, our team provided solutions to rejuvenate the land and redefine the narrative of urban revitalization. The brownfield site proposed specific challenges and required an innovative approach to the design and execution process to achieve the results GF and the client desired. This previously developed site is complicated by the potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. Though it is solely the client’s responsibility to hire a certified professional for Brownfield cleanup’s, GF architects assessed the development accordingly and reviewed the survey reports provided by the client in the design stage of the project. Due to the site’s distinct characteristics of having a high ground water table and low bearing capacity soil, our architects worked with Geotechnical and Structural Engineers to establish the project’s foundational design and implemented a 3 ft. thick mat slab foundation system to spread over the entire footprint of the building. An additional challenge involved the issue of Bruckner Avenue existing in a flood zone. Requirements set forth by FEMA, Zoning Resolution, and DOB were adhered to carefully by the GF team.  To execute the project’s design in a component and efficient manner with consideration to the approximate completion date, our architects were thoughtful, timely and meticulous in the planning process. 

The property is renowned among developers for its enormous potential as it is a transit-oriented development with access to Midtown transit and a short distance from the Brook Avenue 6 train. This is a particularly attractive aspect for tenants because they can travel and commute easily; with this in mind, the client’s vision focused on maximizing the number of apartment units that the building could have. Our team was able to fit an impressive 448 apartments within this iconic structure, GF has orchestrated a true urban oasis that resonates with our clientele’s progressive aspirations. Remarkably, this number stands as the maximum permissible by code. To achieve the client’s vision of implementing designated and separated spaces of the building to optimize and emphasize the feeling of organization, the GF team positioned different amenities on the ground floor, which focuses on entertainment, and on the cellar floor, which centers on fitness and wellness. The ground floor amenities include a large lounge and co-working spaces, private meeting areas, game and movie rooms for kids, and an inner courtyard garden. It also features a 1,700-square-foot bike room, offering 225 bike parking spaces. The cellar floor features an indoor swimming pool and hot tub with sauna and steam rooms, strength training and fitness studios, a squash court, and a half basketball court. The GF design team installed a 220-foot-long ramp system to allow tenants easy access from the cellar floor to sidewalk level.  

These areas are complemented by landscape areas on the first floor’s partial roof and building rooftop, which add another element of luxury and entertainment. Furthermore, the building offers an attendant parking service for residents and has 59 triple-stacked modules, which provide 177 parking spaces, four of which are designated for accessible parking. Adhering to GF’s vision of a sustainable future, 39 charging stations will be provided for electric vehicles. The inclusion of a playground, dog run areas, social seating spaces, and barbecue stations allows residents to engage with one another and provides them with opportunities to enjoy the amenities of their building.    

This mixed-use site brought unique challenges that were overcome by GF’s capabilities as an Architectural firm to design the initial Brownfield Development into an attractive mixed-use residential building that benefits Mott Haven and the rest of the South Bronx.  The building offers tenants a healthy and balanced lifestyle with amenities featuring state-of-the-art exercise equipment and studios, a blossoming courtyard for leisure, and entertainment options for all ages.  With this site being transit-oriented, the Brook Avenue 6 train promotes convenience for residents and the neighboring community to use for daily commuting and access to the rest of boroughs. Additionally, GF’s design team coordinated accordingly to building services (M/E/P/FA), building structure, and triple stacker modules within the building envelope while satisfying building code, program requirements at the cellar floor, and the client’s vision for design. For the entire 448 apartments, dwelling unit redesign exercise was applied to satisfy the client’s marketing team needs while ensuring the Building and ADA codes were not compromised. The development of 138 Bruckner provides its tenants a sustainable and meaningful place to live.